My dear friend recently had a complete total knee replacement and was ordered by her surgeon to utilize a knee recovery machine in lieu of traveling to do physical therapy on location, which meant that she was home-bound for eight weeks, seeing no one but her husband. He is a fine man and all, however, he is sort of a dry, dull kind of fellow.
A few of us ladies who are close friends with her decided that we would make it a point to visit our recovering friend once a week. We would bring snacks, read books, and mostly, we laughed a lot. Not only was this great for our friend’s mental health, but it sped up her actual physical healing as well.
When we laugh, our brain releases endorphins, the body’s natural mood boosters. As in a cardio session, laughing boosts our respiration and heart rate. In addition, a good laugh ripples through the body, causing muscles to tense and then relax. Here are some of the positive effects laughing has on us humans:
- Improved mood and quality of life
- Reduced stress levels: Laughter reduces stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine
- Improved immune system
- Reduced pain: Laughter can help to reduce the perception of pain, while massage can help to reduce muscle tension and improve circulation.
- Improved sleep: Since laughter helps reduce stress hormones such as cortisol, a sleep disruptor, watching or reading something funny before bed just might help with those sleepless nights
Laughter is an effective tool that helps those who have experienced serious injuries to improve their health and mental well-being. It assists those who have experienced serious injuries to cope with the psychological and emotional aspects of their experience, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety while promoting feelings of joy, happiness, and contentment.
When I laugh, it makes me want to lighten up, not take everything so seriously, and learn to, as the old saying goes, “Wear the world like a loose garment, which touches us in a few places and there lightly” – St Francis of Assisi.
Another quote about laughter that I adore is from the wise words of the Disney character Goofy, “Ya know why I laugh? A’cuz it’s good for ya!”.
What are the positive effects from laughing?
Laughter enhances our intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles, and increases the endorphins released by the brain. As a result, it activates and relieves the stress response.
Furthermore, laughter is contagious. In fact, I am laughing just thinking about it! In my mom’s family, the women are known to have incredible senses of humor, from being dry and sarcastic (my mom) to a practical joker (my Nana) or just plain silly (my aunt). On many occasions, the four of us would be up to the wee hours chatting and laughing the night away.
Sometimes, my aunt would go off on what my mom called “a laughing jag.” No words were even said about what she was laughing about, and the rest of us would be in tears, almost wetting our pants over something we didn’t even know what she was laughing about in the first place!
Is laughter contagious or infectious?
Both! A single laugh can quickly spread to others in a room, creating a ripple effect of laughter and cheer. Hearing a single laugh, whether it’s your own or someone else’s, triggers a similar response in the listener.
The physiological reason why laughter is contagious is because the sound of a chuckle triggers regions in the premotor cortical region of the brain, which is directly involved with moving facial muscles to correspond with sound.
This phenomenon is known as contagious laughter and is a form of emotional contagion.
According to Psychology Today, “Emotional contagion refers to the phenomenon in which a person unconsciously mirrors or mimics the emotions of those around them. Emotional contagion can be triggered by nonverbals such as facial expressions as well as by overt conversational or behavioral cues: A smile can spread from one person to another, and someone who is complaining can bring someone else down.
People are often unaware of their susceptibility to another’s mood or emotions, and an understanding of this phenomenon can help someone both regulate their own emotions and avoid dampening the moods of others,”.
How about those priceless inside jokes we share with friends? Or, as my kids call them, “funny family stories.” My sons loved to hear those funny family stories! I’d say laughter and a good sense of humor are a family trait and one of my most favorite innate gifts.
The show America’s Funniest Videos has been airing since November 26, 1989, for a reason; we’re laughing at everyday, ordinary people doing normal, silly things that make us laugh. The show’s audience peaked in the 1991-92 TV season with an average of 25 million viewers per episode, a number well out of reach of most prime time shows in today’s fragmented TV environment.
Laughter and humor can also be a way of:
- Diffusing tense situations
- Creating a sense of camaraderie and trust
- Showing support and affection
- Showing that someone is not a threat
Additionally, humor is seen as a way of expressing solidarity and group membership. For example, people are likelier to laugh at jokes that refer to their group, culture, or religion, as this allows them to feel a sense of belonging and unity.
Ultimately, humor is a wonderful form of communication that conveys ideas and emotions in a non-threatening way, expressing emotions and ideas that could be too sensitive or controversial to discuss directly, hence why comedians are our best tool to bring levity to a dark situation or time in society.
Why is laughter considered the best medicine?
In conclusion, laughter truly is the best medicine. It not only enhances our mood but also strengthens our relationships and improves our overall well-being. So, let’s embrace laughter in our daily lives and enjoy its numerous benefits. Keep smiling and stay healthy!